Peel Coastal groundwater allocation plan

The Peel Coastal groundwater plan sets out how we will regulate and manage groundwater in coastal parts of the Peel region.

Last updated: 25 January 2023

Plan release information

The Peel Coastal groundwater allocation plan was released in October 2015.

Supporting documents for the plan were also released:

The statement of response summarises our response to public submissions received on the Peel Coastal groundwater allocation plan: for public comment, released in 2014.

The plan sets out how we will regulate and manage groundwater resources in and around Mandurah. Groundwater is now fully allocated and the plan signals that future water needs will need to be met through improving water use efficiency, water trades and transfers and alternative water sources where appropriate.

Water allocation planning in the Peel Coastal area

The Kwinana–Peel region has one of the fastest rates of population growth across the state. It also has significant environmental features, including the Peel–Harvey estuarine system and the Ramsar-listed Peel–Yalgorup wetlands that are internationally recognised. This means that careful planning is required to manage groundwater use in the area.

This allocation plan sets out updated management for groundwater resources, including:

new allocation limits that incorporate the effects of a drying climate
updated local polices to protect the resource from the impacts of abstraction (e.g. saline intrusion)
aligning water planning and land use planning
encouraging water trading
outlining alternative water source options
improved water accounting, particularly domestic water use
targeted groundwater monitoring for management and evaluation, including water quality
a framework to regularly evaluate our management and adapt it if needed.

Plan area

The Peel Coastal groundwater allocation plan covers 380 km² about 70 km south of Perth. The plan covers the coastal area from the City of Mandurah to Lake Preston, just north of Myalup.

The plan covers part of the South West Coastal Groundwater Area, most of which is in the local government areas of the City of Mandurah and Shire of Waroona.

Water resources

Groundwater in this area is mainly used to irrigate public open spaces, school grounds and domestic gardens, as well as for agriculture and commercial uses. Water is abstracted from the Superficial and Leederville aquifers. The Superficial is the watertable aquifer and the Leederville aquifer generally underlies it.

For management purposes, the Peel Coastal plan area is divided into seven subareas – Coastal, Colburra Downs, Falcon, Island Point, Lake Clifton, Mandurah and Whitehills.